Author: bowvsmusket

The explorer John Knight was shipwrecked off the coast of Canada. Upon going to shore with three men, Knight and his party were killed by natives. A member of Knight's crew, Oliver Browne, took over composing Knight's journal for the remainder of the expedition. While in the process of salvaging supplies from the wrecked ship … Continue reading Battle on the Ice – John Knight, 1606

From the chronicles of the Spanish historian Antonio de Hererra, a passage describing "Amazonian women" who fought with poisoned arrows and one who slew eight Spaniards with her bow. The first that saw Carthagena, in the year 1502. was Roderick Bastidas, & the year 1504. Juan de la Cosa or John of the Thing went … Continue reading The Amazons of Cartagena – Antonio de Hererra, 1601

Another post from Henry Hudson's 1609 expedition. This is a rare examples of bowmen defeating musketeers. The natives outnumbered Hudson's crew twenty-six to five. Firearms were frequently enough of an advantage to overcome such odds, but in this case rain disabled them. The sixth [day], in the morning was faire weather, and our Master sent … Continue reading John Colman slain- Henry Hudson, 1609

From the travels of the explorer Chrisopher Burrough, a small skirmish with thieves. Not a real battle, but bow vs. musket nonetheless. Robert Golding desirous to understand what might bee done at Shamaky, which is a dayes journey from Bachu, went thither, from whence returning, he was set on by theeves, and was shot into … Continue reading Thieves at Shamakhi, 1580